Acquittal: meaning, definitions and examples

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acquittal

 

[ əˈkwɪt(ə)l ]

Context #1

legal term

A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged. It is a formal declaration in a court of law that someone is not guilty of a crime.

Synonyms

absolution, exoneration, vindication

Examples of usage

  • The defendant was overjoyed when the jury delivered an acquittal.
  • The acquittal of the suspect shocked the public.
Context #2

general usage

A judgment or verdict that someone is not guilty or has been cleared of a wrongdoing.

Synonyms

clearance, exoneration, vindication

Examples of usage

  • The acquittal of the athlete restored his reputation.
  • The acquittal of the company in the lawsuit was a relief for the shareholders.

Translations

Translations of the word "acquittal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 absolvição

🇮🇳 दोषमुक्ति

🇩🇪 Freispruch

🇮🇩 pembebasan

🇺🇦 виправдання

🇵🇱 uniewinnienie

🇯🇵 無罪判決

🇫🇷 acquittement

🇪🇸 absolución

🇹🇷 beraat

🇰🇷 무죄 판결

🇸🇦 تبرئة

🇨🇿 osvobození

🇸🇰 oslobodenie

🇨🇳 无罪释放

🇸🇮 oproščenje

🇮🇸 sýknun

🇰🇿 ақтау

🇬🇪 გამართლება

🇦🇿 bəraət

🇲🇽 absolución

Word origin

The word 'acquittal' originated from the Latin word 'acquītāre', which means 'to free from'. In legal contexts, the concept of acquittal has been present throughout history as a fundamental aspect of justice systems. Acquittals can be seen as a symbol of the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof on the prosecution. The process of acquittal has evolved over time to ensure fair trials and protect individuals from wrongful convictions.

See also: acquit.